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T. S. DENISON 




Class JP^L53iL_. 



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190c 



COFk'RIGHT DEPOSIT. 




"And near it grew a tangled wood." 



THE 

OLD SCHOOLHOUSE 



AND OTHER 



Poems and Conceits in Verse 



T. S. DENISON 



AUTHOR OF AN IRON CRaWN, THE MAN BEHIND, MY 
INVISIBLE PARTNER, AND THIRTY-SIX PLAYS. 



ILLUSTRATED 



The hasty and the tardy meet at the ferry. 



CHICAGO: 

T. S. DENISON, Publisher, 

J63 Randolph Street 






rfHE: LiSHASY Of 
CON QR ESS, 

CLAS«0^iXXo No. 
COP*Y 



COPYRIGHT, lg02 
BY T. S. DENISON 






TO THE PERSON WHO READS A PREFACE. 



Some of these poems have appeared in various 
periodicals. Most of them-, however, have never 
seen the light of publicity. They are part of the 
bric-a-brac accumulated in my intellectual workshop 
during twenty-five years. Not knowing what else to 
do with them, I cast them forth on the sea of print 
as a mother bird casts her fledgelings from the nest. 
Some of them, like "Hasten, Love. Hasten," are 
poetry; others, like "The Ibis," merely rhymes. If 
I were to indulge any regret concerning their pub- 
lication, it would be that not more of them are 
poetry. But verse is undoubtedly the best if not the 
only vehicle for the expression of many moods and 
passing fancies. 

T. S. Denison. 

October, 1Q02. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



All the illustrations are by Mr. Morris B. Aleshire, 
except El Capitan and Wady el Kelt, which are reproduc- 
tions of photographs. 

"And near it grew a tangled wood."- Frontispiece 

"Though men may flout the dreamer's rhyme," 20 

"The whitening fodder in the serried shocks." 24 

"The limpid waters gleam." - - - - 42 

"The water boy bears from the spring his jug." 52 

"And thou, El Capitan, cloud-piercing rock." - 72 
"Where prophets once had converse with 

Great Jah." - - 82 

"And peace the toiler's way." . - - 102 



X 



CONTENTS 



VARIOUS POEMS. page 

The Old Schoolhouse 1 1 

Life '.'.'.'. 14 

Long Ago 15 

The Zodiacal Light 16 

Inscription in a Book of Verse 17 

The Thing That Will Not Be .' 18 

The Poet is Born, Not Made 20 

An Ideal 21 

Indian Summer 24 

Inscribed on a Flyleaf 25 

The Leper 26 

An Ode of Anacreon 28 

Learn to Labor and to Wait 29 

The Snow Plant 31 

It is an 111 Thing to be Dying 32 

The 'Op Tree at Kew 33 

An Admonition 34 

The Bugaboo Tree 35 

Presentiments ^j 

The Shouting Dervish 40 

The Whispering Dervish 41 

The Birth of the Rainbow 42 

To a Book Just Published 44 

The "Hant" 4^ 

The Traitor's Guile 47 

The Hermit Crab 48 

The Palace 4^ 

July 52 

The Runaway Slave 53 

7 



8 CONTENTS 

POEMS OF LOVE. page 

Oh Hasten, Love, Hasten 59 

If Love Were June 60 

I Gave You a Rose 62 

Love's Inner Light 63 

The Evils of Love 64 

On the Greek View of Love 65 

The Mermaid's Call 66 

POEMS OF TRAVEL. 

Crillon 71 

El Capitan yz 

Glacier Point y:^ 

Sunrise at Mirror Lake 75 

The Grand Canon of the Colorado 76 

The Ibis yy 

To the Mummy of Rameses II 78 

Jaffa 80 

The Mountains of Moab 82 

Gethsemane 84 

Beni Hassan 85 

Sunset In the African Desert 88 

The Isle of Pines 89 

POEMS OF WAR. 

Columbia 97 

The March of the Dead Brigade 98 

The Charge of Pickett's Brigade 99 

Our Unknown Heroes loi 

The Sleuthing of the Tiger 103 

The Hymn of the Avenger 105 

The Poet and the Word 107 

The Chant of the Boer 108 

The Boy Prisoner no 

THE TYRANT IMMORTAL ....,..,,,,... .115-128 



VARIOUS POEMS 



"The corn passes from hand to hand, 
but comes at last to the mill" . ' . 



THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE 

AND 

OTHER POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE 



The schoolhoiise stood on Sandy Hill, 
A noisy, old-time knowledge mill, 
Where Yankee masters came to teach 
And wield the thought-inciting beech. 

And near it grew a tangled wood — 
"May apples" there inviting stood; 
And oft we were too late for class 
In digging 'seng or sassafras. 

That log house was of good report. 

As strong as blockhouse or a fort ; 

Great white-oak logs, well chinked with clay, 

Combined to keep the wind away. 



THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE. 

Along the bench the master comes, 
Pronouncing words and "doing" sums ; 
Behind his back an urchin grins ; 
The hot stove bakes our tender shins. 

The learning there was like the place, 
Plain rudiments with little grace ; 
And of those scholars few there be 
Who ciphered past the Rule of Three. 

Twas Readin', 'Ritin', 'Rithmetic ; 
The books were hard and heads were thick 
Our thoughts ran more on "corner" ball, 
Or scratching pictures on the wall. 

The schools are better now, they say, 
With drawing cows and muddling clay ; 
But learning sometim.es on us palls — 
We chewed our books for paper balls; 

And slyly tossed them up on high. 
Upon the ceiling, there to dry. 
But well we learned that simple rule : 
"The rod is made for back of fool." 



AXD POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 13 

How very slow the laggard sun 
His noontide journey seemed to run! 
We longed for lunch of buttered bread 
And mellow apples, ripe and red. 

Too short that noon, we rushed to ball; 
Soon, "Books !" we heard the master call. 
A figure lank, I see him still 
A-standing on the old log sill. 

At lessons, then, with buzz and hum, 
We spell, or puzzle o'er a sum. 
At four, with shout and rout, we go, 
But'some are kept, the very slow. 

And then our girls ! would I could tell 
The charms and virtues of sweet Nell, 
Or limn the gentle face of Ann, 
Or write the hoyden tricks of Fan. 

We scarce our triumph could disguise 
When we found favor in their eyes, 
And saw them home from spelling school, 
Or bore them lightly o'er a pool. 

Sometimes the master thought it well. 
To let them work their siren spell, 



14 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

And when some booby broke a rule, 
Set him among them in the school. 

The pokeweecl rankles round that door 
Where trod the noisy feet of yore; 
But still that old, neglected spot 
The boys and girls have ne'er forgot. 

And where are they, that noisy throng? 
Some stood for right and some went wrong 
Some drew the sword, some held the plow, 
And some rest in the churchyard now. 



LIFE. 



From the Greek. 



For him who doeth all his duty well, 
The span of life is brief in goodly work. 
Who doeth ill hath but one endless night. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN J'EKSE. 



LONG AGO. 



In "Hours of Recreation," i{ 



The pall of the past with its woes and joys 

Is the threadbare mantle of Time, — 
Old Time who silvers the locks he toys 
While their owners once more are girls and boys 
In childhood's beautiful clime. 

Oh, those cherished times of the long ago, 

They are far and still farther away ; 
And manhood's years as days we know, 
For sorrows will come, and pleasures will go, 

Till the months pass by as a day. 

Away — away, till ages it seems — 

In the long ago prone idols lie 
'Mid stranded wrecks of cherished schemes. 
Once big with hope in our boyish dreams — 

They flourished, but only to die. 



i6 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Happy were we, though our fitful moods 

Caused a mother's tear or a mother's kiss, 
For imagination's wonderful broods 
Peopled a realm where no care intrudes, 
A realm of air-castles and bliss. 

We are wiser now ; we were happier then, 

When our young hearts knew not a sigh ; 
And a something whispers the old refrain, 
The reason of all our happiness then, 
We knew not that hopes could die. 



THE ZODIACAL LIGHT. 



Pale, spectral visitor of radiant southern skies. 

Thy nightly apparition charms my wondering eyes. 

A mystery thy shadowy aspect ever keeps, 

Hid from all eyes which search the vast, celestial 

deeps. 
The Milky Way were but an old familiar friend; 
But thy pale mystic shade with Heaven's blue doth 

blend. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. i? 

Sweet shadow, tell me, art thou some celestial maid 
Of bold Arcturus or Aldebaran afraid? 
Or dost thou flee thy lover, the pursuing sun, 
Too coy to yield thyself, yet willing to be won? 



PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION IN A BOOK 
OF VERSE. 



Dear Clara, gentle cousin mine, 
Pray read the verses in this book. 

The poet's fire is divine ; 

It lightens many a darksome nook. 

The poet's inspiration deep 

May lead us from our earthy selves ; 
So in your soul fine verses keep, 

Instead of keeping tliem on shelves. 

It needs a sympathetic heart 
To vibrate to a tender verse; 

And, if you feel the poet's art, 

Your praise is better than your purse. 



POEMS AXD CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE THING THAT WILL NOT BE. 



A futile race, a thin, white face, 

No funeral dirges o'er his bier. 
One line his work will briefly trace — 

"A great ambition ended here." 
A mother stands beside the gate ; 

Hope whispers : "He will come to me, 
My boy who went with heart elate." 

She hopes the thing that will not be. 

Each hour tells of sad farewells. 

Since time and hope together met, 
And youth will go where fortune dwells, 

As others went whose sun has set. 
The home ones bear a voiceless grief 

And fear the thing they yearn to see. 
Ah, me ! to hold against belief 

The hope of thing that will not be. 

The hour was rife, ambition's strife 
Has left but age and wasted days; 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 19 

We spurned the joys of humble Hfe — 
Oh, mad ambition, curse thy ways! 

But eagerly they seize each place. 
As swiftly as the winds may flee. 

With hope alight in every face 

They seek the thing — oh, will it be? 

Ye plant in vain who know not pain, 

And better field than yours is none ; 
Though far-off lands allure with gain, 

At home there's duty to be done. 
And honor is the choicest fruit 

That duty plants or men may see, 
And ever shall the world impute 

To it the things that ought to be. 

Oh, young and fair, be this your prayer, 

Though ye may wander or abide ; 
"Be honor with me everywhere, 

With ebbing as with flooding tide." 
Be zealous then, thine hour is brief, 

In faith someone doth pray for thee, 
And someone holds thee in belief 

As him who brings what ought to be. 



20 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE POET IS BORN, NOT MADE. 



" Poeta nascitur, non fit." 



Men say the poet's born, not made — 

Divine his birth, subHme his trade, 

Who seems to sing with easy grace 

The song that lights a toiler's face. 

Though men may flout the dreamer's rhyme, 

The poet's word endures with time. 

His thoughts are tuned to aching heart, 

And spring at touch of sorrow's dart. 

With kindling zeal he sings his song 

That prostrate souls may rise up strong. 

When men despair he flies his flag, 

And bravely sings lest others lag. 

His life blood ebbs, his hope is gone. 

Knight of the right, he cheers men on, 

His soul aflame with noble wrath. 

Sweet flowers deck the poet's path. 

Who sows 'mid clods of human greed, 

In future years shall spring the seed. 




"Though men may flout the dreamer's rhyme." 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 21 

E'en though his sorrows end in night, 
Full time shall trim the poet's light, 
And men shall know the poet's trade. 
Poet, of pain and sorrow made, 
Hold fast this truth, despite men's scorn, 
The poet's made as well as born. 



AN IDEAL. 
An Imitation. 



In "Hours of Recreation," 1880. 



If I had wit and beauty 
Awhile I'd play the beau ; 

I'd pledge a solemn duty 
To let my humor flow, 

I'd keep my spirits frisky 

And charm the fair with chat, 

For jesting isn't risky 

When jokes are never flat. 



22 POllMS AXD CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

The lords of all creation 
Most envious should be, 

When woman's adoration 
The fair bestowed on me. 

If I had untold money, 
Then servants full a score, 

The wise, the grave, the funny 
Should serve my ample store. 

I'd give the choicest dinners. 

My viands of the best, 
I'd ask both saints and sinners ; 
They munch with equal zest. 

My wife, a stately beauty. 
Should royally preside; 

A queen of love and duty 
Must be my happy bride. 

In travel there is solace; 

I'd sit with dukes and kings; 
I'd build a summer palace 

At Newport or the "Springs." 

I'd read and write at leisure. 
And great men I would know, 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 22, 

Rare books I'd make a treasure, 
I'd talk of art, so, so. 

I think I could be merry 

Ha ! ha ! quite merry, sure. 
In charity not weary, 

I'd give to all the poor. 

And then I'd surely covet 

A modicum of fame ; 
If one can get above it, 

A lowly station's tame. 

At last upon the summit, 

I'd look serenely down, 
And measure with my plummet 

The lofty heights I'd won. 

But I couldn't smile forever; 

Then what wisdom's in my plan? 
Alas, perhaps there never 

Lived a very happy man. 



24 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



INDIAN SUMMER. 



The aging year in its revolving course 
Doth seem to linger fondly in the haze 
Of languorous Indian summer's witching spell. 
The forests glow in red and gold and brown, 
While hill and valley drape themselves in blue. 
The golden paw-paw hangs a-ripening, 
And in the grass the yellow walnuts gleam. 
Sweet chestnuts hide beneath the russet leaves, 
Where busy squirrels gather winter's hoard. 
The whitening fodder in the serried shocks 
Of corn is foil to gleaming pumpkins' gold ; 
And gold that would have tempted Argonauts, 
In piled profusion, marks the busker's course, 
As shirt-sleeved farmers gather in the corn. 
The mellow air is fraught with perfume sweet 
Of ripened fruits, of apples and of grapes, 
Waiting, insistent, for the gathering. 
In straggling, noisy squadrons fly the crows, 
All marshaled for their southern pilgrimage. 




"The whitening fodder in the serried shocks." 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 25 

And blackbirds swoop along the vvheatfield's edge, 

In noisy consultation and farewell. 

At early morn the air is crisp with frost ; 

At eve the sun drops through the veiling haze, 

A fiery globe, whose martial aspect seems 

At war with all the beauties of the day. 

And all too short, this season of delight, 

For Indian summer heralds winter's snow. 



INSCRIBED ON A FLY-LEAF. 



Helen, precious friend of mine, 
Read this book, 'tis half divine; 
May you feel the poet's art ; 
Keep it always in your heart. 

Books are many, poets few ; 
Guard with care the good and true; 
Let the worldlings .hawk and trade. 
Treasure thoughts that ne'er shall fade. 



26 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE LEPER. 



That distant time is by a halo ht, 

Those happy days of home and friends and fame, 
Until timt came, the nameless thing, and it 
I took me unbeknown, 

To slay my being and to blast my name. 

Good-bye to wife and child; we meet no more. 

Friends shun me, horror stamped in every face. 
Cease vain lament, forget me, I implore ; 
A leper is unclean. 

And unclean things the memory may not trace. 

All doors are closed to these, the living dead. 
Who in the ashes of repentance cry ; 

So vile their place that even beasts had fled, 

Discovering its bounds. 

And seeing them, I prayed that I might die. 

But soon my eyes were blasted by the sight 
Of ebbing life thus linked to festering death, 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 27 

Till one, most dreadful, tilled me with affright, 
A limbless lump decayed. 

And cursing fate I fled with bated breath. 

So, speeding on, I met a prince of state. 
Who rode in pomp with trumpet's martial blare, 

While throngs acclaimed him greatest of the great. 

And runners cleared his way. 

But as he passed I saw the leper there. 

Rebellious, then I cried: "Oh, why undone am I? 

For he, too, has the poison's fatal sting." 
They mocked me, but a cynic made reply: 
"Go, fool, thou art discovered. 

And purple hides the errors of a king." 

Enraged, the people then began to rave 

And stoned me till I shrieked: "Oh, God unjust, 

I curse thee." And escaping, in a cave. 

Made friends of reptiles. Lost ! 

Forsworn and filled with all a devil's lust. 

But solitude had tamed my surging heart. 
And, reconciled, I sought that leper band 

To claim the crust that was my humble part, 

As men fling bones to dogs. 

And there an angel took my leprous hand 



28 POEMS AND COXCEITS IN VERSE. 

And spake: "Rage not. He hath attained his goal ; 

But fallen angels wait to chant his dirge. 
Have pity ; his is leprosy of soul, 
But thine is of the flesh, 

Which prayer and humility may purge. 

"The prince hath sinned against the Holy Ghost, 
Insulting Heaven's grace. Thy sin is pride, 

And lowliness redeems thy virtue lost. 

But ever pray for him, 

Lest he in Hades curse the dav he died." 



AN ODE OF ANACREON. 



The black earth ever drinketh, 

The forest drinks from her. 
The deep sea drinks the zephyrs 

That o'er its bosom stir. 
The sun-orb, ocean sated. 

From thirsting moon doth flee. 
So, comrades, why oppose it? 

Go, leave my cup to me. 



( 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 29 



LEARN TO LABOR AND TO WAIT. 



In "Hours of Recreation," 1881. 



There's an adage trite and golden, 
"Learn to labor and to wait," 

And that maxim worn and olden 
Ever points to wisdom's state. 

Hear the words of truth, nor falter 
At the lessons she may teach ; 

Neither luck nor fate can alter 
Any prize within your reach. 

But the meaning of the sages 
Oft is hid from careless view, 

And the wisdom of the ages 
Must be learned by each anew. 

Learn to labor ! Sacred duty 
Lies enshrined in that behest, 

And our toil is robed in beauty 
When our labor earns us rest. 



30 FOE}JS AXD CONCEITS IN FERSE. 

But the waiting! ah, the waiting! 

Naught is labor ; doubt is pain ; 
Deepest wisdom Hes in sating 

Present wants with present gain. 

Dream not of the golden showers 
That may crown your efforts brave 

You may rest in fortune's bowers, 
Mayhap in a pauper's grave. 

Not by toiling, not by waiting, 
Can w-e open Eden's gate ; 

Greedy toil has no abating, 
And the miser learns to wait. 

Time for gaining, time for giving, 
Journey ever very near. 

And the life that's worth the living 
Toils, enjoys, and scatters cheer. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 31 



THE SNOW PLANT. 



Snow plant by the mountain trail, 
Ruddy flesh of warmest glow, 

Curious were your simple tale, 
Told of life beneath the snow. 

Crisp and leafless little plant, 
Grown on root of sugar pine; 

Nature's freak you are, I grant. 
Glowing red as sparkling wine. 

And your flowers, crimson, too, 

Little pendant fairy bells. 
Pure as snow from which they grew, 

Hidden in Sierra's dells. 

Flesh with neither seed nor root. 
Plant that loves the spotless snow, 

Beautiful your fragile shoot, 
Bursting from the frost below. 



32 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Most carnations love the light, 
You prefer the mountain shade. 

Warmth and color love should plight- 
Snow plant, you are oddly made. 



IT IS AN ILL THING TO BE DYING. 



A Sentiment of Sappho. 



An evil death must be, 
For so the gods decree ; 
I fain at rest would lie 
Were 't beautiful to die. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 33 



THE 'OP TREE AT KEW. 



It befell in the gardens of Kew 

Where I sought for an old English yew, 

And a gardener lame 

Volunteered me the same, 
In the space of a minute, to view. 

But to cruise and to roll alongside 
Such a stumpy and grumpy old guide 
Set my wits all askew 
In the curious gardens of Kew, 
And his accents my tympanum tried. 

For his words, like his mariner's walk, 
Seemed to pitch and to roll in his talk. 

" 'Ere's a fine Hinglish hew, 

There's a Hirish hew, too. 
Likewise we've a howl and an 'awk." 



34 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

And I tipped him some big British pence. 

(In their size there is not any sense). 
With a hirch hke a smack in a squall 
He bowed, for the tip was too small, 

And he said : "As I 'opes no hoffense." 

All gardeners — and guides — have a plan ; 
His features antique I did scan ; 

Then a sixpence, straightway, 

I tossed up in play, 
And he showed me an 'Op tree, that man. 



AN ADxMONITION. 



Translated from the German of Goethe. 



And wilt thou always falter, 
Since good is ever here? 

Wouldst thou thy fortune alter, 
Good luck is ever near. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 35 



THE BUGABOO TREE. 



Oh, fearsome and weird is the bugaboo tree, 
For round it are dancing- the dead ; 

Its quivering boughs httle children may see 
Through the blankets that cover each head. 

A phantom comes whispering, glib in its glee, 
Of goblins and ghosts in white : 

"A bogie man lives in the bugaboo tree 
And he'll carry you off to-night." 

And frightened we covered each tousled head, 
We cuddled down closer for fear, 

And shuddered, bethinking that under the bed 
The bogies might gibe and jeer. 

The buga/boo tree groweth far and wdde, 

And it tosses uncanny limbs. 
And very brave people by day deride 

Who suffer at night its whims. 



36 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

It causes full many a spectral dream — 
Black cats, they are very bad luck, 

But swift, muddy water will make you scream 
And run in your dreams amuck. 

And ships, too, are built of the bugaboo tree. 

On Friday they never set sail ; 
'Tis an ominous day, as the sailors agree, 

For bogie men ride in the gale. 

The tables have turned on the bogie, poor man, 

And vainly he flees to his tree. 
We've laid him, the humbug, beneath a ban 

Of plain, common sense, as you see. 

But, common sense, tell me, is that all a myth. 
Since wiseacres pooh away pain? 

Pei^haps it has neither a root nor a pith — 
Let people of Science explain. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 37 



PRESENTIMENTS. 



In "Scrap-Book Recitations," 1880. 



The following poem was suggested by the belief that 
many people have presentiments of coming evil. It is said 
that President Lincoln had such presentiments for many 
years. 

There's naught but ceaseless moaning 
In the beat of the restless sea, 

And^ only pain 

In that refrain 
Foreboding ill to me. 

The gale that swept the ocean 
Inrushes o'er the earth, 

It stirs the lake, 

The forests quake, 
A specter rides in mirth. 



38 rOn.MS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

That specter haunts me ever 
In many a specious guise, 

He comes and goes 

With friends and foes 
And mocks with fateful eyes. 

Prophetic whisperings warn me 
Of death in manhood's prime; 

By da\- and night 

That phantom sprite 
Waits his appointed time. 

He holds the darkened corner, 
I chat by the fireside, 

I laugh in glee, 

I jest so free. 
The phantom laughs aside. 

I think it all a fancy 
And busy myself with men, 

With many cares, 

And great afifairs. 
Awhile I'm free again. 



i 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 39 

In travel and scenes of pleasure 
Life grows each day more sweet ; 

With sudden glee . 

I shout I'm free ; 
Lo ! fate is at my feet ! 

There's naught but ceaseless moaning 
Where beats the restless sea, 

And only pain 

In that refrain 
Foreboding ill to me. 

A cloud broods o'er the ocean ; 
It sails above my head ; 

That fleecy cloud 

Becomes a shroud 
To cover me when dead. 



40 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE SHOUTING DERVISH. 



"Our town is but small; we all know one another." 

— From the A rab:c. 

There's a dervish in the East, 
Who howls just Hke a beast, 

There's a quiet, whirhng dervish better bred. 
We've a talking dervish man 
In our little social clan. 

Whose shouting must, I fear, disturb the dead. 

Now if Allah only would — 
He's the source of every good — 

If his mercy might relieve us of the din, 
Would by miracle or plan, 
He could change our shouting man 

To a dervish who would take a silent spin. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 41 



THE WHISPERING DERVISH. 



To accompany "The Shouting Dervish." 



There is a mysterious dervish, 

Who wears a secretive air, 
And drags men into an alcove 

To whisper to them there. 

Hotels and clubs he inhabits, 

And for his victims — wo worth! 

Oh, would that, like the dodo, 
He'd disappear from the earth. 

He comes when you are conversing 
And spirits your friend away 

Into a quiet corner 

To join in a mystery play. 

And has this serious dervish 

Any desirable schemes? 
Ah, no! his story is simple — 

He deals in the wares called dreams. 



42 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE BIRTH OF THE RAINBOW. 



A radiant bouquet, 

A careless maid one day, 

Threw in a sparkling brook. 

The fountain's naiad took 

The pretty little gift. 

And quickly through the rift 

Of silver flashing foam 

Bore it to her fairy home. 

The limpid waters gleam, 

The sparkling little stream 

Is blushing through and through, 

Dyed with the rose's hue, 

As morning's growing light 

Illumines sable night. 

'Tis summer hot and dry, 

Bold Phoebus rides on high; 

His unrelenting rays 

Have stilled the warbled lays * 

Of all the dainty throats " 

Whose sv/eetly trilling notes 

Were born with April flowers. 

Silent now in leafv bowers. 



I 




"The limpid waters gleam." 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 43 

The fields are burning up : 
And Sol, with golden cup, 
Dips from the fountain's store, 
Replenishing once more 
The cloud's fantastic rim 
Above the mountain grim. 
With joy-enkindled eye 
The plowman saw the sky 
Pour precious waters down 
On farm and dusty town ; 
Then Sol began to blink 
From out an opening chink 
That melted fast and wide 
Through the dark cloud's side. 
And lo ! a splendid scene — 
The gracious naiad queen 
Had placed the beauty glow 
Of flowers in the fcow. 
The careless maiden gazed 
Upon the rainbow pleased, 
With not a passing thought 
Of the beauty she had wrought. 
And so a little deed 
Of love in time of need 
May stir some doubting heart 
To play a hero's part. 



44 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



TO A BOOK JUST PUBLISHED. 



When critics praise or sneer by turns, 
Who may discern the godlike flame 

Of genius that a twelvemonth burns ? 
Impartial Time shall write his name. 

Time seals it — history or song, 
Romances, sermons, epic pages; 

A myriad acolytes may throng, 
And one is chosen for the ages. 

I set adrift my little craft. 

Content to give it to the sea; 
If Fame so please, then let her waft 

My venture safely back to me. 

And if in scorn Fame pass me by, 

Why should I fret who owe her naught ? 

Ambition wins, but wins to die. 
My wage is peace by duty bought. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 45 

THE "HANT." 



There be a few things 

Too deep for science. 

Or any apphance 
That knowledge brings 

To mortals here. 
Of all the oddities in creation, 
With weird and wizardly reputation, 

A walking spook I think most queer. 

He stalks at night, 

So awfully solemn. 

And straight as a column, 
To give you a fright 

By the light of the moon. 
Across your way by indirection, 
He seems to glide without reflection, 

And makes you a face by the light 
o' the moon. 

Oh, pity his lot! 

To all intents 

He circumvents 
One gruesome spot 

By a ruined house. 



46 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

With hair on end Hke a piggie's bristle. 
And goose flesh, too, you couldn't whistle, 
Or raise the courage to beard a mouse. 

He carries his head 

Under his arm 

To keep it from harm, 
Like a loaf of bread 

Or coffee bought at the store. 
He makes you a face like a son of perdition 
By the light of the moon and superstition, 

And you wish that the dead would walk no more. 

For who is this hant. 

That comes from the dead, 

And carries his head, 
And glides with a slant. 

Like a wounded crane? 
He dealt in cattle, ycleped a drover. 
And bought fat steers from off the clover. 

But slain for his money he haunts. Is it plain? 

Oh spirit so sad, 

I think it folly. 

So melancholy, 
A ghost should gad. 

By the light of the moon. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 47 

And though you look a sad-eyed griever, 
I'd Uke to tell you I'm not a believer 
In folks afraid to be seen at noon. 



THE TRAITOR'S GUILE. 



There's a wound that stings, 
And the hand that flings 

The shaft is the hand of a friend. 
For the traitor's dart 
Sinks to the heart, 

And love will not defend. 

There's a word that kills 
As its poison spills 

From lips that once were kind ; 
And the honied smile, 
And the traitor's wile. 

Breed anguish most refined. 

There's a deed that's done 
By a trusted one 

Who was our heart's delight ; 
And our love lies dead, 
'Neath her pall, outspread, 

That covers treason's blight. 



48 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE HERMIT CRAB. 



So you are Mister Hermit Crab, 
Who bears his house upon his back ? 

You Httle tramp, you're quick to grab 
A neater thing that's in your track. 

The human tramp o'er dirt will gloat. 

You're clean and saucy, snug and trim, 
Although you want your neighbor's coat — 

He's wearing it, you wait for him. 

Your eye's on every vacant house. 
You try them on to find a fit. 

And tuck in snug as bug or mouse ; 
You're tickled when you make a hit. 

Some people covet, and they spy 

The house of friend and try things on. 

They scarce can wait to see him die ; 
They want his things before he's gone. 

This crab-ed moral's quickly read. 
The hermit isn't quite a goose; 

He waits till t'other chap is dead 
And puts his things to better use. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. , 49 
THE PALACE. 



Suggested by the fall of the dome of the courthouse 
at Rockford, 111., 1882. 



Stone by stone the marble palace reared its snowy 
front on high, 

Day by day its added glories towered grander to- 
ward the sky. 

Scores of passers gazed with wonder on the city's 
fairest pride, 

Praised with many words the beauties of their city's 
marble bride. 

And the builder in whose visions sprang to life 
that beauteous dream 

Gladly heard the people's praises, words that sweet 
as honey seem. 

Far abroad the fame was wafted of that wondrous 
justice hall, 

And the artist read with rapture how- his work sur- 
passed them all. 

Workmen builded, sculptors chiseled, swinging 
careless in midair ; 

Stately columns ! graceful sculpture ! strength and 
beauty everywhere ! 



50 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN J 'ERSE. 

Joys are added to the artist, and he leads a fair 

young bride 
To the stately pile to glory in his own, his city's 

pride. 
They have passed within the portals, busy hammers 

cease to swing, 
Rousing cheers for bride and bridegroom through 

the lofty arches ring. 
Hark ! Above the dying echoes rises one appalling 

cry 
From the workmen on the tower, swinging yonder 

toward the sky ; 
Shrill and awful for one second rings that dreadful 

warning sound, 
Then a whirl of wreck and ruin, down, the palace 

thunders down. 
JMortar-bearer. gifted artist, side by side together 

bleed ; 
What for service, what for genius, now shall be the 

fitting meed? 

Fairer than the broken marble, senseless lies the 
stricken bride. 

Genius dying in his triumph, crushed and bleeding 
at her side. 

Toil-worn wives and aged mothers, voiceless, tear- 
less, view their dead; 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 51 

Lost to them is every dear thing, Hfe and hope and 

daily bread. 
Genius reared that great rotunda, Genius sought to 

pierce the sky ; 
Now, dare Genius tell those widows that in vain 

brave men may die? 
Sacrifice is offered daily somewhere "neath the flee- 
ing sun. 
Or for truth or cruel error sacrifice must still be 

done . 
Only God's divinest wisdom numbers all the woes of 

man. 
That betide when rash presumption daring builds 

with faulty plan. 

Now the artist's dream has vanished, and instead 

a shapeless mass 
Cumbers all the busy ])laza where the countless 

thousands pass. 
Short his fame, but long the sorrow, nurtured in his 

cherished scheme 
Shall, enshrined in public legend, live to mark 

fame's empty dream. 
So misguided genius ever writes his name upon the 

sand ; 
And but truth with angel presence may for aye 

endurino- stand. 



52 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



JULY. 

Aglow, in lusty ardor, July brings 

Her deep fruition to all things create. 

Life leaping with new force, in pregnant light, 

With emulation triumphs o'er decay. 

The golden wheat, the swelling fruits, the leav{ 

In verdant canopy, all speak of life. 

The joyous birds, with songful pride, regard 

Their uncouth fledgelings, and the lowing kine 

Make loving answer to their sportive young. 

Rejoicing in his waving wheat, afield. 

The farmer reaps the increase of his lands. 

By turns at butter-making and preserves 

The wife anticipates the winter's needs. 

With fruits the children make an all-day feast. 

The invalid breathes in the healing air, 

In converse with the birds beneath a tree. 

The noisy reaper fells the fragrant grain ; 

The water boy bears from the spring his jug. 

A silver burnish veils ethereal blue, 




■The water boy bears from the spring his jug. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 53 

In summer's glorious sky ; the fleecy clouds, 
Like mountains lying low and far away, 
Fit barriers were of some enchanted land, 
Their silver edges cut like cameos. 
The breezes ripple through the leafy boughs 
With murmurs softer than a naiad's sii^Ii. 
The idler lies upon the bending grass 
Unconscious of the busy world he fled, 
And all his being thrills with July's joy. 



THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 



Translated freely from the Creole French dialect of 
Louisiana. 



In a sweet gum tree the mocking-bird sits. 
"Peelo, peeloo," he sings, and he flits. 
"Ho there, nigger, cutting in the cane, 
Buckle to the work now, might and main." 

Negro picking on the old "banzoo" 
Stops to listen, for they want him, too. 



54 POI-MS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Down in the swamp, he hears the refrain, 
Of the master's call to the slaves in the cane. 

Down in the swamp, by the bayou's side, 
"Ole jNIassr finds me he'll tan mah hide." 
There in the swamp, 'mid the cypress knees, 
On a moss-thrown isle is a bower of ease. 

Woodpecker laps in a pine tree's top, 
Negro listens for the chase to stop. 
Deep in the woods there is plenty of room. 
Where the rare sweet jasmin spends its bloom. 

Woodpecker taps on a hollow tree — 
"Bless yo', honey, dah's a house fob me!" 
Rat-tat-ta in the shimmering noon. 
And the "banzoo" strums to a neero tune. 



POEMS OF LOVE 



' ' St Henri quatre me donnait 

Sa grande ville de Paris, 
Je pr^/t'rrais ma mie, 

Je frdferrais ma m,ie." 

' ' My only books 

Were zuoman's looks, 

And folly 's all they taught me. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 59 



OH HASTEN. LO\'E. HASTEN! 



Oh hasten, love, hasten, for time flieth fast; 
Our youth is for love and old age for the past. 
So come to my arms, love, and list to the beat 
Of a heart that will throb to a love token sweet. 
I've built thee a bower 'mid roses and vines, 
Where each fragrant hour to love lore inclines ; 
The south wind is blowing, the rose is aglow, 
Oh hasten, love, hasten, thy coming is slow. 

And if thou come not in the flush of the spring. 
The fruitage of summer thy favors will bring. 
My star's in the zenith, so come in thy power, 
In beauty a vision, in perfume a flower. 
The tendrils entwine the fair bower I built, 
The beaker is brimming, oh, come ere 'tis spilt. 
For the heyday of manhood surpasses in love 
As far as the eagle's flight passes the dove. 

And failing the summer, then autumn shall plight, 
For the charms that are ripened are fair to the sight. 
Thine eye is a star, and my heart is, in truth. 
More steadfast in love than the heart of my youth. 



6o POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

So hasten, love, hasten, the sap's in the vine, 
The purple grapes ripen, come, take them for thine. 
Oh, come like Aurora, a rose of the morn, 
While the autumn is fat with her fruits and her 
corn. 

The sun's in the West and the song birds have 

flown, 
The roses are dead and I'm waiting alone. 
Oh hasten, love, hasten, my heart is still warm ; 
With love at the ingle we'll laugh at the storm. 
No longer my blood like the charger doth spring, 
Like gold are the hours thy presence will bring. 
I'll cherish thee, dear one, I'll kiss fhy pale brow, 
And our bark shall float outward with love at the 

prow. 



IF LOVE WERE JUNE. 



If love were June, the month of flowers, 
W'hen perfume laden steal the hours. 
And but one day were numbered mine, 
That dav, sweet love, should all be thine. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 6i 

If January's virgin snows 
Sealed all the earth in death's repose, 
And stars sang out time's last refrain, 
Then hope would live did love remain. 

Were I in Afric's deserts wild, 
And I were nature's trusting child, 
And love fled in the fierce Khamseen, 
I still would trust in her, my queen. 

More, I would sail the Indian Sea 
To find thee, love, who waits for me, 
And, gliding 'ncath the tropic moon, 
With thee I'd scorn the wild monsoon. 

Though thou didst fly to frigid zone, 
I still would seek thee for my own ; 
For Greenland's longest, darkest night 
Were rosy dawn if love did plight. 

I must have thee, love, for my own ; 
Without thee nothing else were won— 
Pearls, baubles, all that gold may buy. 
Were useless things if love should die. 

I'll seek thee now— thou wilt not flee— 
And in my heart thou'rt near to me ; 
And heart hath more as heart doth share, 
'Twas made for love to nestle there. 



62 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



I GAVE YOU A ROSE. 



I gave 3-011, love, a rose, 

You asked it with your eyes ; 

Your face did naught disclose 
Except sweet love's emprise. 

My rose you picked apart 

And idly threw away ; 
Your eyes then begged my heart- 

1 could not say them nay. 

You took my peace of mind, 

A gift beyond recall ; 
I thought you true and kind, 

Your eyes said : "Give me all." 

1 asked your heart of you ; 

Your face grew cold as stone ; 
Ah. traitor eyes untrue ! 

Your heart was not your own. 

Fair traitor, then I knew 

Why you despoiled my flower; 

Ah ! like your love it grew 
To last one fleetincr hour. 



lOEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 63 

Where is my one poor rose? 

You plucked its petals fast . 
Where is my peace of mind? 

Gone! gone to join the past. 

So all sweet friendship's years 
You blasted with your smile, 

And dust bedewed with tears, 
That's for a woman's wile. 



LOVE'S INNER LIGHT. 



I walked, one night, beneath the stars, 
And while my feet were drawn to earth 

My eyes pierced heaven's shining bars ; 

For love exalted me, 

And in my soul joy leaped with sudden birth. 

I labored in a garden rare. 

Where once but weeds had vexed my sight ; 
And lo! I saw sweet flowers there, 
All limned by love's own hand. 

And for her sake my pains became delight. 



64 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Each duty of my urgent days 

Grew light as whisperings in a dream. 

Love silenced envy with dispraise 

As sweet as poet's song, 

Or tinkling music of a limpid stream. 

With chant the world's expectant choir 
Uplifts to heaven its pleading eyes 

And begs one spark of sacred fire ; 

But love has lit my soul. 

And by her side I walk in paradise. 



THE EVILS OF LOVE. 



From the Greek. 



Misfortune call it not to love, 
And bad is love let trial prove. 
But worst of all fate's cruel stings 
Is love that unrequited springs. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 65 

ON THE GREEK VIEW OF LOVE. 



All love is evil, thought the Greeks, 

But youth such evil ever seeks ; 

For not to love is quite as bad, 

And love that's scorned— oh plight most sad ! 

Ah, well, to evil all are prone, 

And, right or wrong, FU seek my own ; 

And be there evil in a kiss 

Fll take the evil with the bliss. 

E'en cruel doubt is sweet delight, 
When fair ones work us sorry plight. 
Though love be seldom smiles and flowers. 
One smile is worth all pain of ours. 

So live and love, go drain the cup. 
The draught is bitter, drink it up. 
'Tis but a madness, that is clear. 
But love is life, and life is dear. 

And when some fair, bewitching girl 
Sets all your being in a whirl. 
Let her not all the havoc make. 
For love's a game of give and take. 



66 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE MERMAID'S CALL. 



Translated from the German — Schiller's "William Tell. 



It smiles, the blue sea, 
It invites to the bath, 

The boy lies asleep. 

On the grass by the path. 

He hears in his dreaming 

A whisper as sweet 
As the voice of an angel. 

For paradise meet. 

She calls from the water: 
"Oh. boy, thou art mine. 

J "11 lure thee far down 

Where the seaweeds entwine." 



POEMS OF TRAVEL 

"Hoiv much a dunce that has been seiit to roam 
Excels a dunce that has been kept at home." 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 71 



CRILLON. 



Lines to a Statue of Crillon at Avignon. 



Brave old Crillon, standini,^ there 

In that little graveled square, 

At Avignon, the papal town, 

Whence thy title and renown? 

"Crillon, le brave," the legend reads. 

Armored knight, recotnit thy deeds. 

Broad thy chest and strong thy arm. 

Sympathy to thee shall warm. 

Warrior, speak from oitt the grave; 

Knight of knights, who called thee "brave' 

Tell me, chevalier of old, 

Didst thou ever fight for gold? 

In my fancy now I see 

Indignation cover thee. 

Xo! in truth that arm so strong 

Ne'er was raised in aid of v>rong. 

"Many blows indeed I gave 

For the orphan and the slave. 

Captive maid and widowed dame 

Never wept at Crillon's name. 



72 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Sword I drew for Christ my Lord, 
Never false was Crillon's word." 
Weighty reasons Crillon gave 
Whv the world should call him brave. 



EL CAPITAX— YOSEMITE. 



Overland Monthly. 



Xo milestones mark the mighty handiwork 

Of God's creation. Time is but a spark 

That points the vastness of eternity. 

A satellite may run its course and mark 

A fleeting second on that vaulted disk 

Where nebulas revolve a single hour. 

But mortal all, we know an infinite 

Of lesser scope to mete by measures vast. 

And thou, El Capitan, cloud-piercing rock. 

Which rearest in one matchless height supreme 

Three thousand feet of awful majesty, 

Dost stand and mark the greatness of thy birth. 

Lost in transcendent awe, the mortal eye 




'And thou, Kl Capitan, cloud-piercing rock.' 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 73 

Regards thy unsealed, battled heights benumbed, 

And seeks in vain thy hidden origin. 

Three thousand feet ! 'Tis but a feeble span ! 

And there on high thy cloud-capped fretted head 

Hast scorned the fuming storms of gnawing time. 

And thou, perchance, hast seen the fiery birth 

Of planets, and beheld the perishing 

Of suns, unmoved on thy supernal seat, 

Thine own birth hid in deepest mystery, 

Thou greater than the sphinx. But thou divine. 

Stupendous form, exalted one of time. 

Through untold aeons, wilt thou break the spell 

Of thine immensity and tell thy tale? 

How wast thou reared, colossus, granite ribbed. 

Great monument of Nature's wild caprice? 



GLACIER POINT— YOSEMITE. 



The giant pines behind me hid the sky ; 

Before me lay the awe-inspiring deeps 
Of great Yosemite. Afar on high 

The winter king eternal vigil keeps. 



74 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

And silent peaks beneath their snowy hood 
Stand guard for him o'er this, God's holy rood. 

For this is holy ground ; men tread with awe, 
And gaze far down on that stupendous pale, 

As to that brink their trembling limbs they draw, 
And look upon earth's one sublimest vale, 

Or on that lofty rim, whence cataracts 

Leap on the scene and each his part enacts. 

The setting of this wondrous stage sublime 
Benumbs each sense and every thought appalls ; 

None with an equal grandeur seen since time 
Began — Nevada and the Vernal Falls. 

Eight hundred feet, Nevada, is thy spume, 

Thence down to Vernal in a mighty flume. 

And Half Dome, facing great El Capitan ! 

What genius carved such monuments in stone — 
Twin giants, hoary when our race began ? 

Yosemite, the matchless, stands alone. 
Imagination halts and Nature seals 
Her book of mvsterv and naught reveals. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 75 

SUNRISE AT MIRROR LAKE— YOSEMITE. 



A sheet of liquid glass in meadow set, 

And springing near to meet the dark blue sky, 

Three thousand feet of rock and wreathing pines. 

'Tis early morn, and crisp the mountain air 

Invigorates the eager ones who stand 

Expectantly to greet the rising sun. 

Most wonderful ! They gaze into those depths 

And not on high. For there lies mirrored deep 

That mighty rock with fringing conifers. 

Two mountains base to base, one downward thrust. 

A fairy scene now bursts upon the eye 

In dazzling splendor. In that mirrored notch, 

Far down shoot silver rays athwart the fringe 

Of pines that seem but lace of rarest weft ; 

And threads of gold entwine that matchless web, 

Fit draping for the fairy queen. And lo ! 

The god of day, a threaded crescent first 

Upon his flaming brow, then all his disk, 

With fiery glow to light his wide domain. 

One fleeting moment's inspiraition deep! 

Spellbound we gaze enrapt, then vainly praise 

The matchless glories of Yosemite. 



76 POEMS AND COXCEITS L\ I'EKSE. 

THE GRAND CANON OF THE COLORADO. 



White City Club. Oct. 14. 1902. 



Amazing, measureless immensity ! 

As if some errant planet, in its flight, 

Had torn the vitals of our mundane sphere 

And left her wounded in her nakedness. 

That puling man through seons yet to come 

Might look and feel the Universal Might. 

A turbid thread, the Colorado winds 

Below, past mountains, in those shudd'ring depths, 

\\'hich rear their stony, silent heads aloft 

In futile effort to o'ertop that brink — 

Great giants that do but impede the sweep 

Of that fell cleft where all the cumb'ring dead 

Of all the world might find a sepulture. 

On either side the desert-plain sweeps up ; 

And lo! 'tis cut as if by Parca's shears, 

Jn envy of Earth's fructifying breast. 

And trembling mortals, riveted in awe. 

Gaze down upon the many-colored crags, 

Where blend the spectrum tints of variant light. 

And shadows mingle, an ethereal veil, 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 77 

As eve its purpling mantle slowly folds 

Around to let the gazer have surcease, 

Lest awe should work him some uncanny spell. 



THE IBIS. 



The ibis is a holy bird, 

At least I've heard men say so. 
And from his very solemn look 

I think he means to stay so. 

Beside the Nile, upon one leg. 
He stands on sandy bottom, 

And seems so very full of thoughts, 
You wonder where he got 'em. 

In ancient days, when Pharaoh ruled. 

Religion was a mixture ; 
With sacred snakes and tabby cats, 

The ibis was a fixture. 

At sight of this long-legged fowl. 
In need of some emulsions, 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

The priest, with laughter, surely must 
Have fallen in convulsions. 

But stay, he's such a solemn chap, 
Although he's not a croaker, 

No one would ever laugh at him. 
Unless 'twere Pharaoh's joker. 

Some men are like that sacred bird, 
A smile will never win 'em ; 

They stand around and look so wise. 
And yet there's nothing in 'em. 



TO THE MUMMY OF RAMESES H. 



And here beneath the curious public's view 

Has ended all thy greatness, Ra-Messu. 

Son of the mighty Seti, thy renown 

Three thousand clashing years have handed down. 

And once before thee princes knelt like slaves ; 

To-day, with kindred clay from royal graves, 

Th) poor mute form for fee is daily shown — 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 79 

Five mean piastres, in this land thine own ! 

Thy kingly presence once so passing great, 

In awe the nations wondered at thy state. 

The Hittites and the Ethiopians far 

In strongholds quailed when thou didst go to war. 

Concerning Jews, perchance thy conscience pricks, 

Withholding straw and yet demanding bricks. 

Great spirit, once within this blackened clay, 

That hoped to stir it in a future day, 

With shame dost weep o'er this thy corse, time 

worn ? 
Or dost thou note the curious with fell scorn ? 
Of regal race. Great Ra, son of the sun. 
On earth so potent, has thy spirit won 
A crown of glory in that new sun-land? 
Or dost thou by the Styx ignoble stand, 
And brood o'er perished glory, Ra-Messu, 
Bewailing olden times, as many do? 
Since here on earth enduring is thy name. 
Doubt vantage thee and laureled be thy fame. 



8o POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



JAFFA. 



Ho ! ye artisans of Hiram, 

Men of might and cvnining skill, 
Truly did you land at Joppa, 

Or at Jaffa on the hill? 

'Tis a thing past comprehension, 
And I think you never did. 

For the boiling surf of Jaffa 
Chases up a rocky skid, 

Tossing sixty feet of silver, 

Liquid feathers in the air ; 
Sons of Hiram, were you seasick 

When you made the landing there ? 

j\Ie, embarking, poor landlubber. 

Jaffa's beggars, there they be ! 
And our boat, just like a bronco, 

Tries to buck the roaring sea. 

Nose to heaven, plunging madly, 
Dinners shifting in the hold ; 

Down, Lord save us ! to inferno, 
Seasick men are not o'er bold. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Hiram, if you went to Jaffa — 

It is hinted in the Book — 
Did you undertake the landing? 

Or to tourist agent look? 

Up again in awful tumult, 
Skyward, Arabs cling to oars, 

Stomach this time shifts its cargo 
And a comber o'er us pours. 

Raging sea and swearing bos'n, 
Sinking hearts and rising lunch, 

Wailing women, monstrous billow, 
Turks and Christians in a bunch. 

Ship in offing — just a mile off — 
Women all too scared to wail ; 

Weather for a brief diversion 
Rains a deluge, then some hail. 

But the Father of the Faithful 
Has no use for harbors new, 

For if Allah needed shipping 
He'd 'a built the harbor, too. 

Tell me, Hiram, King of Tyre — 
You and Solomon were thick — 



82 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Were you eighteen-carat metal 
Or a Tyrian gold brick? 

Royal humbug were you surely 
If you own to Joppa's birth. 

For this seaport far the worst is 
To be found upon the earth. 

Father of the Faithful, close it ; 
'Tisn't worth a battered sou, 

And your custom house — don't breathe it- 
Can be bribed with filthy lu — . 



THE MOUNTAINS OF MOAB.* 



Upon Judea's stony hills we stand 
And gaze on Moab's land of mystery. 
There gleam the waters of the bitter sea 
Whose tideless waste fit symbol is of death, 
In this dead land whose youth is long forgot. 



*The panorama seen from Jerome, Arizona, greatly re- 
sembles that described here. 




Wady cl Kelt, Palestine — with cuuvciu of St. Elias and 
old Roman bridge. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 83 

And there, in Jordan's plain, wild Arabs dash 

In reckless wantonness on fleetest steeds 

And brandish naked swords with matchless skill, 

Half sport, half earnest, to amuse the Frank. 

The turbid Jordan gnaws, like giant tooth, ^ 

A yellow notch into the dark-blue sea ; 

While Sodom apples and the puny brake 

Attest an endless war 'twixt life and death 

Upon this plain of cities purged by fire. 

Surpassing- far imagination's scope, 

Are seen the mountains of the Aloabites ; 

Great panorama that would shame the brush 

Of Titian or of Raphael, in tints 

Laid on by burning sun 'neath wondrous sky, 

A glowing violet with golden red 

And flushing brown and fading yellow-green. 

All blended on this canvas of the gods. 

'Xeath sky fit rival of the waters blue. 

With worldly minds we journeyed to this land 

Where prophets once had converse with great Jah, 

And we, one moment, grasp the deeper truth, 

For here God's spirit quickens all his work. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



GETHSEAIANE. 



Outworn and stricken is this holy land, 

And there dejected sits Jerusalem, 

Above that vale of tears, Gethsemane, 

The place of earth's most awful tragedy. 

The hoary, gnarled olive trees decayed, 

Its silent witnesses, are stayed with stones ; 

But Christ in agony no solace had. 

A land of blood is this where curse of guile 

Moves hearts of men to rhythm of violence. 

And here mistaken reverence has set 

Upon the walls in garish, palsied art 

Christ's awful agony. Vain work of love! 

All impotent, it jars the inner sense: 

For who can paint the torment of a soul. 

In throes of mortal agony ? And least 

His soul which bore the woes of all the world. 

Wrung with that voiceless pain, ineffable, 

Pursued by hate and cursed treachery. 

Nay, rather let these blasted hills and vales 

Recall his passion and that shameful death. 

In cunning, legal form which wrong so loves. 

This land of sorrow, smitten with a curse, 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 85 

In every rood recalls the Christ of love. 
So, hoary boughs, be mortuary wreaths ; 
And, flowers of the garden, like sweet nard. 
Distill your perfumes round this sacred spot. 



BENI HASSAN. 



Beni Hassan, sons of Hassan, don't you think your 

conduct bad 
Raising such a mighty shindy if a shilling's to be 

had? 
Beggars all, ye sons of Tshmael, sheik as well as 

fellaheen, 
Swarming like the flies of Pharaoh where the Nile 

is flowing green. 
(Green's the color of the river in the babbling 

poet's dream, 
Just as heaven's blue is "oh fay" for the Danube's 

turbid stream.) 
Now the Frank in dahabeah comes to see your an- 
cient caves. 



86 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN I'ERSE. 

Like the kite upon the pigeon, down ye swoop, ye 

idle knaves ; 
Donkey driver, sheik and women, mangy cur and 

ancient goat, 
By the bank, ye ragged ruffians, waiting for the 

Prankish boat ; 
With your throats attuned to "bakshish." for the 

traveller dreadful cry. 
"Give us something, oh howadji. or we'll let our 

cudgels fly." 
Oh, ye thieving sons of Hassan, Ibrahim, a man of 

blood 
Planged some children of the Hassan, swung them 

for the public good. 
'Tis a lesson long forgotten ; on they swarm in 

ragged rank. 
As the puffing Prankish steamer glides against the 

sloping bank. 
Prankish women scream in chorus as the sons of 

Hassan rush, 
In a riot, bakshish riot, shouting, fighting, in a 

crush ; 
Howling, pushing, sweating, praying, rural guard 

and ancient sheik. 
Greedy Arab, dog and donkey, all a mighty tumult 

make. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 87 

Dragoman in rainbow raiment, like to Joseph's gor- 
geous coa/t, 
Swings his whip and calls his allies, seamen from 

the Prankish boat. 
Lovely woman pale with terror, stolid man enjoys 

the scene ; 
In a moment stills the tumult where the Nile is 

running green. 
And the sheik with mighty cudgel speaks as Moses 

spake of old. 
Cowed, ignoble sons of Hassan, after all you're not 

so bold ! 
Dead and wounded ? Ha ! not any, one unlucky 

bleeding head ; 
And on donkey back howadjis to the ancient caves 

are led. 
Greedy sons of robber Hassan, why in tumult 

waste your time? 
Very easy is the answer. Donkey drivers earn a 

dime. 
And of Balaam's faithful servants, waiting, forty 

were or more. 
While the curious howadjis reckoned but a single 

score. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 
SUNSET IN THE AFRICAN DESERT. 



Around is sand and in the distance hills 

Whose ruddy sides glow in the setting- sun. 

No living green, the heated, tawny earth 

Lit by mysterious splendor as the day 

Is ended. Blue and orange is the east ; 

The west all gold ; and stillness over all. 

The scene is hallowed, and a reverence 

Springs in the softened heart the while the eye 

Dwells on the splendors of the dying day. 

And distant stands, black set on russet ground, 

An ancient Arab tent, and near its door 

A camel silhouetted on the sky. 

A yellow globe the sun drops in a sea 

Of gold, while quickly turn the ruddy cliffs 

To duller hue. A cool, sweet-scented breeze 

Springs like a lover to embrace the night. 

A feathered creature of the dusk pipes up 

As flitting aimlessly from rock to clifif 

He bathes his wings in cooling welcome eve. 

Meanwhile, we jaded children of the West, 

In pensive meditation seek the Nile. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 89 

THE ISLE OF PINES. 



A laughing sea and tropic sun, 
A lazy river, 'twill not run. 
A puffing steamer, swarthy crew, 
On crazy wharf stand soldiers two. 

Here in this little, hidden bay 

Cast anchor buccaneers they say. 

And o'er the pirate vessel's side, 

Their prayers said, men walked and died. 

And motley villains swarth of hue 
Divided coins and ingots new. 
Here, in this lovely Isle of Pines, 
They slitted throats and drank good wines. 

Now soldiers two of haughty Spain, 
While dusky Cubans tug amain 
At cable as we idly float 
On lazy river, wheezing boat. 

We step ashore 'neath tropic sun 
And buzz of greetings is begun ; 
While w'aiting till we disembark, 
Stands vehicle like Noah's ark. 



90 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

With aimless fussing to and fro, 
At last we're ready and we go, 
With caballeros, looking queer, 
On lanky steeds, in front and rear. 

And one with accents very throaty 
Much resembled Don Quixote. 
Away we race in evening breeze 
O'er jolting stones and fallen trees. 

Our Sefioritas, Dons and Dames 
In Spanish call each other names ; 
But what had seemed to us a fight, 
In truth was converse most polite. 

In piney woods to Santa Fe, 
The memory lingers many a day. 
Delightful, quaint old Cuban town, 
Where lazy nature will not frown, 

Except when comes the hurricane 
And then she plays Old Xick 'tis plain. 
With roofs of thatch and drowsy square; 
And goats and negroes idling there ; 

And tossing fronds in evening breeze 
Are royal palms, the prince of trees. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 91 

What scene is this that greets my eyes ? 
I stand and gaze in mute surprise. 

Banana, hut and palm I note, 
And negro, too, and nibbhng goat. 
A moment there I puzzled stand ; 
Have I in dream seen such a land ? 

And, reminiscent, then, I look. 
Ah. picture 'tis from some old book ; 
For memory has kept them all ; 
Hut, negro, goat and palmtree tall. 



POEMS OF WAR 



"The /alco7i dies and his eye 
is still upun his prey." 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 97 



COLUMBIA. 



"Invocation" — from an unpublished historical poem. 



Columbia, latest titan born of pregnant time, 
Proud arbiter of seas and guardian of the isles, 

The great revolving Bear beholds in polar clime 
Thy starry flag; thine eyes the Southern Cross be- 
guiles. 

Heed well, lest siren-songed ambition lead in ways 

Which conquerors have trod, the sword thy final 

choice, 

Where once thy star-emblazoned aegis lent its rays 

To light the world, and nations hearkened to thy 

voice. 

To thee men look though but from Pisgah's distant 
height ; 
For seeing thee full many a slave has died in 
chains 
With hope, because thy arm holds might as less than 
right, 
And charged his sons: "Be brave; Columbia re- 
mains." 



98 POEMS AND CONCEITS JN VERSE. 

Amid thy laurels twine the olive branch of peace ; 

Teach all thy sons the ways of righteousness and 

love, 

That war, the sport of kings, in all the earth may 

cease : 

That God thy mission to the nations may approve. 

The light of truth outshines the glitter of a crown. 
With crimson halo, limned b\- hand that draws the 
sword. 
Since vaunting best befitteth those who seek re- 
nown. 
Let one word sum tliy creed, and freedom be 
that word. 



THE MARCH OF THE DEAD BRIGADE. 



In Century Magazine (July, i8g8). 



No sound disturbs the drowsy dawn, 

As forms the dead brigade ; 
Its silent ranks in serried lines 
Glide onward toward the springing pines, 

All phantoms in parade. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN J 'ERSE. 99 

Their steps bend not the drooping corn ; 

These warriors all are ghosts. 
In rank and file with solemn tread. 
Their captains marching at the head, 

Move on these silent hosts. 

From out the tented camp of death, 

Their flag of peace displayed. 
With footfall soft as dew at morn 
These cohorts sweep the bending corn, 

Where battle once was laid. 

The mark of God's eternal peace 

Their countenances bear ; 
And, freed from all unholy hate. 
They shine with that exalted state 

Which heaven's angels share. 



THE CHARGE OF PICKETT'S BRIGADE. 



In Gettysburg at break of day 

The hosts of war are held in leash 
To gird them for the coming fray, 

LofC. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

E'er brazen-throated monsters flame, 
Mad hounds of death that tear and maim. 

Ho, boys in blue, 

And gray so true, 

Fate calls to-day the roll of fame. 

On Cemetery Hill was done 

The clangor of four hundred guns ; 

Through drifting smoke the morning sun 
Shown down a line of battled gray 
Where Pickett's waiting soldiers lay. 

Virginians all. 

Heed glory's call, 

You die at Gettysburg to-day. 

'Twas Pickett's veteran brigade, 

Great Lee had named ; he knew them well ; 

Oft had their steel the battle stayed. 
Oh warriors of the eagle plume, 
Fate points for }OU the hour of doom. 

Ring rebel yell, 

W'ar cry and knell ! 

The stars, to-night, will set in gloom. 

Oh Pickett's men, ye sons of fate. 
Awe-stricken nations bide your deeds. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. loi 

For you the centuries did wait, 

While wrong had writ her lengthening scroll 
And God had set the judgment roll. 

A thousand years 

Shall wait in teafs, 

And one swift hour bring to goal. 

The charge is done, a cause is lost ; 

But Pickett's men heed not the din 
Of ragged columns battle tost ; 

For fame enshrouds them on the field, 

And pierced, Virginia, is thy shield. 
But stars and bars 
Shall drape thy scars ; 

No cause i§ lost till honor yield. 



OUR UNKNOWN HEROES. 



By Permission of Woman's Home Companion. 



The soldier dies in battle 
And glory guards his name ; 

Then twine one wreath of laurel 
For heroes lost to fame. 



POEMS A\W CONCEITS JX J 'ERSE. 

The soldier dies in battle ; 

The engineer dies, too, 
Amid a wreck of iron, 

His courage just as true. 

He guides his flying monster 
By bridge and mountain side, 

Though death sit on the pilot 
To share his last swift ride. 

In l^attlc dies the soldier; 

Men write his name on high ; 
lender the stone the miner, 

With none to hear his cry. 

The one in God's bright sunshine, 

For glory yields his life ; 
The other in the darkness 

For children and for wife. 

And him who bends to labor. 

Through twoscore years and ten, 
Grave deep his name in marble. 

Let him be known of men. 

The warrior wins a guerdon ; 
But fields of golden wheat 




And peace, llic toiler's way." 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 103 

Redeem God's lasting promise 
That all mankind shall eat. 

The soldier's trade is slaughter; 

And peace the toiler's way ; 
Whose then shall be the trophy 

Upon the judgment day? 

Carve all their names in marble. 

Our roll of honored dead — 
The soldier's for our country, 
, The toiler's for our bread. 



THE SLEUTHING OF THE TIGER. 



Since first the sons of women 

Have sought the forest shade 
The sleuthing of the tiger 

Has made their souls afraid ; 
Forever, at the daybreak. 

His helpless quarry cries, 
And, waking with the morning, 

Is the fear that never dies. 



104 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Men say of old he hunted 

For humbler, timid game ; 
Slim-flanked and shod in velvet, 

To haunts of deer he came. 
But once in dreadful hour 

He tasted human blood ; 
Now, dainty, sleuthing tiger, 

lie trails a nobler brood. 

With age has grown his cunning; 

His robe once tawn is white ; 
The sleuthing of the tiger 

No more is done by night. 
This tyrant of the forest 

Would fain to men be leal, 
But 'neath his mask deceitful 

Lie bristling rows of steel. 

And envoy of the nations. 

Of destiny the mate, 
He cons the book of logic 

And seals the book of fate. 
The stealthy, sleuthing tiger 

Would Avear God's seal and sign 
To carry law and order, 

Dark man. to thee and thine. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 105 

And far off in the forest 

Resounds the hopeless wail 
Of wretched, hunted people, 

The tiger on their trail, 
The crafty, sleuthing tiger, 

God's self-appointed beast, 
Who robs the child of nature 

That tigers still may feast. 



THE HYMN OF THE AVENGER. 



On the eve of the Spanish-American War, April 3. i{ 



Hark, the trumpet of an angel, and behold a vision 
dire ! 

See the awful god of hatred at his sacrificial fire ! 

Lo, in Cuba and Armenia his loathsome altars rise ! 

And the smoking of the sacrifice pollutes our South- 
ern skies. 
While the waiting nations ask: Oh God, how 
long? 

In the sunny vales of Turkey see the heaping of 
the slain, 



io6 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

And the shrieking of his victims rings across the 

Spanish Main, 
While the rav'ning god of hatred in the fierceness 

of his zeal. 
Girds anew his bloody garments and he whets his 

cursed steel. 
And the money changers whisper : Let us wait. 

Oh. shall babes and weeping maidens cry and ever 
cry in vain ? 

No, the voice of mercy speakcth : "Let the mad- 
dened beast be slain," 

And a million freemen draw their blades to smite 
him in their wrath. 

May the God of Justice guide them as they break 
him in his path. 
And the awful sentence ringeth : He shall die. 

Let the sword of righteous judgment cleave the 

beast from head to heel ; 
And the wrath of God consume him on an altar built 

of steel ; 
Strewing wide his unclean ashes in the battle's 

mighty blast. 
That the weak and the oppressed may abide in peace 

at last. 
For the mightv are the servants of the Lord. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 107 
THE POET AND THE WORD. 



In Chicago Chronicle (November 26, 1899.) 



Lines suggested by the slaughter breathing emanations 
of certain English poets. 

Scorn for the men 
Who wield the pen 

To bolster usurpation. 
Vain is a people's boasted pride, 
Vain is the cause for which Christ died, 

When madness grips a nation. 

For bond or free. 
'Tis God's decree 

That mankind shall inherit ; 
That every man, in every clime. 
Shall prove his work and bide his time 

For judgment of his merit. 

And 'tis the man 
That in God's plan 

Shall strive to win his guerdon. 
And none, proud Briton, Turk or Gaul, 
May bid his neighbor "Heed my call, 

'Tis mine to fix thv burden." 



io8 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

That story plain 
Is not in vain 

Of Naboth's small possessions. 
And yc who covet lands, yc great, 
Think not God shall regard your state 

When meting your transgressions. 

And none so poor. 
Or slave or Boer, 

But God will heed his crying. 
When time is ripe, His potent Word 
Shall dull the proud oppressor's sword ; 

And right takes no denying. 



THE CHANT OF THE BOER. 



In the Inter Ocean. Chicago (January 2, 1902). 



I ride the tawny veldt in pain ; 

To die for home I count but gain ; 

The English foemen press my track ; 

My trusty rifle answers back. 

And though I ride straight on to doom, 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. loo 

My fate shall tell through all the years 
That freedom's price is blood and tears. 

The kopje soothes my aching breast; 
The stars above me guard my rest ; 
For friends my rifle and my steed, 
In these I trust in time of need, 
Though all the legions of a king 
Shall trace in flame their master's word. 
That right is but a name for sword. 

My fallen comrades speak to me; 
They died to make their country free. 
The glories of Majuba Hill 
And Spion Kop, I see them still. 
There sleeps his last my haughty foe. 
To him a nation marble rears ; 
Let men remember me with tears. 

In every vale I meet my foe, 

By night his fires round me glow. 

But while one Boerman lives to ride, 

A silent host is at his side. 

So long as Afric sky is bright, 

I'll claim my own, my veldt so poor, 

And none shall wrest it from the Boer. 



no POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 



THE BOY PRISONER. 



Gone to a land of strangers, 

Gone to a lonely cell. 
Facing unknown dangers. 

Branded as traitor fell. 

All alone in his anguish, 
Far from friends and home, 

Day by day to languish. 
Soon despair will come. 

Charged with the crime of treason, 

Oh, so young and fair ! 
Scarcely knowing the reason. 

Why he is dying there. 

Neighbors, father, brother. 

Fighting for that creed, 
Wonder 'twere if other, 

The boy held right, indeed. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

Gone from his hills and valleys, 
Gone to far Camp Chase, 

Hoping still he rallies, 
But death is in his face. 

Compassionate, the sentry 
Smiles with a friendly nod ; 

And when the guard makes entry, 
A soul has gone to God. 

Virginia mother weeping. 
Under the old roof tree ; 

Tears for the boy that's sleeping. 
Prayers for the boy with Lee. 



THE TYRANT IMMORTAL 

1901 

'Oi'K ' ed4\(i) irXovrflv, ovk i^x^f^"-'-' o,\\d fioi 
'eiT] f'Tjc eK tCov oXi-yoiv ixTjbkv 'exovra kukSv." 

" I do not desire great riches, I do not fray for thetn, 
rather let ?ny lot be to lir<e on little, escaping evil." 



THE TYRANT IMMORTAL. 



Argiiinent. The author sets forth that each age 
has a master passion which prevails over the minor 
vices and foibles of humanity and gives character 
to an era. 

Part I. Degrading fetich worship and human 
sacrifice prevail, giving color and trend to the life 
of savages and semi-civilized nations. 

Part II. The king becomes a demi-god and uses 
his divine authority to awe and oppress the igno- 
rant people. 

Part III. The lust of conquest, dominion and 
glory animate the world, especially Rome, which 
practically was the world. 

Part IV. In the Middle Ages the religious feel- 
ing is again dominant and the crusades are an ex- 
hibition of its power. Alongside of religion, owing 
to the ignorance of the times, flourished magic, 
witchcraft and belief in signs and omens. 

Part V. The age of Progress promised to bring 
in a practical millennium. But greed, a detestable 
passion, has grown with accumulating wealth until 
it threatens the liberties of the people as did all the 
other forms of the ruling passion. 

ii6 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 117 



THE TYRANT IMMORTAL. 



I sing of a tyrant immortal, 
Of a tyrant without a name, 

Who sits in humanity's portal 
And taxes humanity's shame. 

PART I. THE FETICH GOD. 

Like backward glances flung by one who fears 
And runs, so let the vision scan the field 
Sown by that farthest age to yield 

A crop of vileness and of human tears. 

And It man worshiped was a monster lank, 
Couchant, with vengeful eyes regarding men, 
Who blew his poison breath from out his den, 

To scorch with vapors that were hot and dank. 

And with that vile contagion men went mad; 
Eating their brothers' flesh at horrid feasts, 



ii8 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

To gain from it new strength 'gainst foes or 
beasts. 
And slew with joy, for blood-kist made them glad. 

And //, that monster on the farthest edge, 
Beheld his blood-dyed votaries with joy, 
While they with trembling, lest his glance de- 
stroy. 

Laid on his altar each a living pledge. 

Sometimes a maiden of a tender age. 

Or babe that nestled to its mother's breast. 

Or captive spared when death had ta'en the rest ; 

And still, unsatisfied, he sulked in rage. 

Till fell the lightning from insulted Heaven 
• To smite the dragon and his priesthood dead, 

\\'hile dupes and votaries in horror fled. 
And conscience quickened with a grain of leaven. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. Ug 

PART II. THE KING GOD. 

The King it was whose power made the state ; 
The sun sat on his brow and smote men's eyes 
And bhnded with effulgence of the skies, 

There centering all the things that men call great. 

And of this god, whose glance transfixed a foe. 
Vicegerent god and brother of the sky, 
No groveling subject dared to meet the eye, 

Lest presence slay him e'en without a blow. 

When royal Ra sat brooding by the Nile. 
Or Bel. "Creator," by Euphrates' wave, 
Man toiled a beast, a scourged and sweating slave. 

That wine and beauty might his god beguile. 

He piled a mausoleum of the dead. 

With human blood cementing" every stone. 
And, in the desert, voices seem to moan, 

Lamenting- all those millions who have bled. 



120 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

With hidden meaning and with magic rite, 

The priests and eunuchs riveted men's chains 
Till e'en the soul had suffered mortal pains, 

And pined unnourished in eternal night. 

In coward fear of saurian s of the deep. 

Of dogs and vilest thing that flies or crawls. 
They built them fanes and sculptured on the walls 

Base images in superstition's keep. 

Fear ruled the world, for on the royal brow. 
Did not sit vainly thunders that could smite * 
The mightiest who dared his king's despite ; 

And scorn so loftv hates the slaves who bow. 



PART III. THE GLORY GOD. 

Ambition next all barriers had rent, 

And shook the frighted earth with battle clash ; 

And made the sword successor to the lash. 
While war was holidav with gladness blent. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 121 

Great Rome had marked the world a destined prize, 
Exacting homage from a thousand chiefs, 
Who erst had fought for gain or petty griefs. 

And discord led, that Rome by craft might rise. 

In marble fanes men kneeled to pallid death. 
And loud huzzas acclaimed the god of war. 
While captives tugged and died upon the oar. 

And soldiers, spent, cursed with their dying breath. 

A Caesar shadowed all the crouching world. 
And with the fire of his touch he seared it. 
Yea. far as Tigris, men had felt and feared it, 

Dreading his oriflamme of war unfurled. 

The great fed on the great, and lower sank 
The rabble in a cankering slough of lust. 
Till faith was not and none his mate could trust, 

And Caesars in a day rose from the rank. 

And mighty Rome had writ her name the highest, 
Teaching the world the lesson of the sword. 



122 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

That virile men might con it word by word 
And add one Hne : "Vain is thy pomp, thou diest." 



PART I\'. THE SUPERSTITION GOD. 

As one in fever who hath troubled sleep, 

Benumbed with some narcotic, dreamed the world. 
The flags that blew for glory were all furled, 

And Superstition held mankind in keep. 

In that dark age the slave was twice a slave, 
Who feared his master's whip, but more that one 
Whose potent lash could reach the soul undone, 

Or with a word could intercede to save. 

In cloister sat the monk and pondered well 
The ways of spirits, and if ten could dance 
Upon a needle's point, or if perchance 

The fallen angels' wings were singed in hell. 

Then royal grace could cure by royal touch — 
'Thing's Evil!" rottenness, a name to wring 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 123 

The hearts of kneeling sufiferers, who bring 
Their sores before the throne. God pitv such. 

And zealots burned the doubter at the stake, 
A holy work that \\on a heavenly meed, 
In name of Christ. To justify a creed, 

They burned their brothers for the brothers' sake. 

And mumbled prayers o'er a crumbling bone ; 
Or fumbled relics to avert the spell 
Of witches, and of evil shapes that dwell 

In haunted places, where none go alone. 

So proud the baron was he did despise 
The wretch in rags who was his needy serf, 
And hacked his flesh as lightly as the turf 

That must be well subdued ere crop may rise. 

Men walked, half waking, in sad, lethal dreams. 
While superstition, mounted, like a hag. 
Spurred on her victims, lest their zeal should flag 

And reason move them with some transient grleams. 



124 POEMS AXD COXCEITS IN VERSE. 

But, like to gods, a chosen few were those, 
Who found in chaos forms divinely fair, 
Where genius quickened with her tableaux rare 

And from the dust art's radiant lily rose. 

And lo ! the genius of a new-born age 

Shakes out the folds of her enchanting robe, 
W'hose bright effulgence circles all the globe. 

And writes but Progress on a snow-white page. 



PART V. THE MONEY GOD. 

Vanished the gods of cold, insensate stone! 
To Saurians no more is homage paid, 
And witchcraft to Anubis flees afraid, 

\\'hile vain man boasteth he is all his own. 

Olympian Progress sits enthroned to rule, 

While clanging presses vomit knowledge forth. 
In deluge like to Noah's o'er the earth, 

And he who serves not progress is a fool. 



POEMS AND COXCEITS IN I' ERSE. 125 

For progress belts the trembling earth with steel, 
And builds her houses twenty stories high. 
But, like Anubis, when her loved ones die, 

Embalms them fondly as if clay could feel. 

And progress crowds her millions in one spot, 
So thick their clamor doth astonish Heaven ; 
And with a dash of learning's frothy leaven 

They move to pity at the heathen's lot. 

Little hath he but freedom's tonic air, 

He wears no harness through the weary hours, 
But on his track the civilizing powers 

Sleuth him as savage beasts are trailed to lair. 

Hail progress! hail the god whose temples spring 
Thickly upon the earth ; whose servitors not few 
Bring costly ofif'rings in their garments new, 

While joyous pseans to their god they sing. 

But like the votaries of ancient days. 

These servitors have servants who are poor, 



126 POEMS AXD COXCEITS JN VERSE. 

Sore stricken with disease that finds no cure. 
For, slave or freeman, 'tis the toiler pays. 

For man and master meet throu^^hout the ages, 
One proud, erect, the other "neath the yoke ; 
One was the exalted demi-god who broke 

His fellow with the sword — and word of sages. 

For words have keener barbs than loaded whips. 
And fairest word too oft conceals a gyve 
For willing slave ; while babbling prophets thrive 

By cunning service which is from the lips. 

Hail progress ! Tis a cry of subtle might. 
Go rend the old, if, breaking, you may swell 
Your reputation and your purse as well. 

And change is progress, hence all change is right. 

This age has dofifed her once enchanting robe, 
That radiant garment with its lucent stars. 
And donned instead the panoply of Mars, 

That progress may encircle all the globe. 



POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 127 

And barons, cunninger than those of old. 
With alchemy, our freedom deftly bring 
To crucibles of trial whence doth spring 

A ready genius that turns blood to gold. 

Stupid Anubis, with the jackal head ! 
Thy servile worshipers must needs have whips, 
But W'iser is our god, who deftly slips 

Gold in the palm : our god is better bred. 

The new inrushing years with fatness cloy, 

And freedom's increase holds the world in scorn, 
She hails her kings of iron, oil and corn, 

For oil makes gladness and in corn is joy. 

She thanks thee, progress, for the right to cheer 
This Pantheon that greets her wondering eyes. 
With Plutocrats the mightiest 'neath the skies, 

\\'hose chief mav count a thousand millions clear. 



128 POEMS AND CONCEITS IN VERSE. 

■ EPILOGUE. 

The dragon's fane was dabbled with men's blood ; 

The mighty sun-god smote his trembling slaves ; 

Rome's god, the sword, her priesthood were her 
braves ; 
The monkish ages prayed the holy rood. 

Oh, freemen, heed the parting of the ways ! 
Our quest is freedom's Holy Grail, 
Thou, God, be with us lest we, too, may fail, 

And might prove right, as in the darker days. 



AN IRON CROWN, (4th Edition.) 

By T. S. Denison. 




AN IRON CROWN, published years ago, stands to-day as 
the greatest anti-tnonopoly book. 

" Who is the man with the courage, skill and daring to write 
such a ^lOoW."— Pittsburg Commercial-Gazette. 

"A stirring tale. The author enumerates some startling 
truths."— iWw York Sun. 

"Whether or not the great American novel has been written 
remains to be decided after this book shall have been widely 
read." — Chicago Evening Journal. 

Cloth, 560 Pp., Illustrated, $1.50. 

To close out a few on hand before printing, $1.00, postpaid. 



THE MAN BEHIND. (4th Edition.) 

By T. S. Denison. 

" Marked by originality, force and novelty of scene and char- 
acter. It has a plot and a good one. The book is full of dra- 
matic situations and incidents, and exhibits in places a remarka- 
ble analysis of the workings of the human mind. It depicts the 
struggle between ambition, cupidity and conscience. Frequent 
touches of human nature, either pathetic or humorous, a careful 
and graphic style, powerful and realistic character drawing, and 
a faithful portrayal of time and locality, combine to make Mr. 
Denison's novel a strong and not easily forgotten work."— Z?a//)' 
News, Chicago. 

Price, 311 Pp., Cloth, $1.50. To close out present 

edition, $1.00, postpaid. 
T. S. DENISON, Publisher, 163 Randolph St., CHICAGO 



THE KING * 

THE KNAVE and 
* THE DONKEY 

By PYTHIAS DAMON. 

A remarkably original book with all the fascination 
of a novel. 

The greatest political satire which the United States 
has produced. 

' "Equal to the satires of JuvenaV 

"A book for radicals and reformers generally." 
Full of sharp sayings. Detroit Tribune. 

"A concise history of the human race from 4004 
B. C. down to ten o'clock last night." 

Christian Evangelist, St. Louis. 



"A clever bit of pasquinade. The author deals 
with existing economic and sociological conditions 
and those whom he esteems their authors in a spirit 
of refreshing candor and much plainness of speech." 

Brooklyn Citizen. 

"Cleverly dissects the whole scheme of existence." 

Denver Beimhlican. 

"A powerful arraignment of millionaires and the 
sacredness with which large fortunes are treated." 
Farm, Stock and Ranch, IMinncapolis. 



"The chapters on 'Ananias' and 'Columbia's In= 

fants' are especially seasonable." 

Texas Farm and Banch. 



>TONATHANS 
J NEW 
BOY 

A GREAT BOOK ON IMPERIALISM 

By PYTHIAS DAMON 
Author of " The King, the Knave and the Donkey" 



The expansionist says imperialism is a 
bogey. The anti-imperialist says it' is a 
national danger. This book gives both 
sides a fair hearing and covers the whole 
ground. It sparkles with telling hits, 
keen satire and racy humor. The quaint 
sayings of Jonathan are keen as rapier 

thrusts. 

"Keen satire and remorseless knife 
work in commenting upon the world- 
work of John Bull and Brother Jona- 
than." — Buffalo Express. 

"The author has assuredly made a 
strong case. Tt will no doubt please 
those who are oi)posed to imperialism." 
— The Mirror, St. Louis. 

"The teaching of the work is in the 
riglit direction." — Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, 
Ex-Sec U. S. Treasury. 

" A humorous presentation of the po- 
litical situation. Shows up some of the 
difficulties which will be inevitable in 
the government of the Philip- 
pines . ' ' — Detroit News- Trib une. 

"Exceedingly' interesting and 
should have a wide circulation." 
— Ex-Governor J. P. Altgeld. 

"A i)olitical satire full of witti- 
cisms." — St. Paul Dispatch. 

Price, 25 Cents. 

T. 8. DENI^ON, Publisher, R«„d'4'b st. Chicago 



TBE DEBATER'S flAND-BOOK. 

By A. J. KINNAMAN. 



The pvblisher believes thi» book will fill a place occupied by no 
other. It is not only a manual of parliamentary usages, but a care- 
ful and complete guide to all matters pertaining to OBOANIZA' 
TION. 

In the matter of PAKLIAMENTAKT T7SAQBS it Is full and 
accurate. It contains a CHAKT which shows Pt a glance the 
order of precedence of most of the points which may possibly arise. 
This ftaturi^ alone is ivorlh the price of the book. It gives in brief 
space all essentials of parliamentary usages as applied to: 

LODGES, 
G. A. R. POSTS, 

HIGH SCHOOL SOCIETIES, 

LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUBS, 
TOWN AND WARD MEETINGS, 

POLITICAL CONVENTIONS, ETC. 

DEBATING CLUBS will find this book unequaled. It tells you 
all about how to start the machinery. Hovj to outline and prepare 
a debate. It gives full debates so that the inexperienced speaker 
may know about what he is expected to say, and how much is re- 
quired to fill his allotted time. 

INT OKQANIZATION the "Debater's Hand-Book" excels. It 
begins with the first steps and gives a wioi/ir/ organization. Also 
models for Constitution, By-Lavjs, Ezpense Accounts^ ttc. 



♦'No other book on the subject is so complete and practicaL"— 
College Post, Danville, Ind. 



PRICE, CLOTH, 50 CENTS. 
T. S. DENISON, 163 Randolph St., CHICAGO. 



GOOD MHNNGRS 



Bad Manners are Ine^^cttsable. 
A "Word io the Wise is Suffieient. 



That a man is known by his manners is a saying too trite to need 
repetition here. History is full of instances where a very slight 
blunder has ruined a person's prospects of attaining a coveted ob 
ject. Youth is the time to acquire good manners, but it is never 
too late to learn. This book is concise, correct, and up to date. It 
contains complete instiuctions (or behavior at home, school, in the 
ttreet, and abroad. It gives full etiquttte of dinners, supptrs, 
teas, parties, balls, calling, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, etc, 
etc. It contains numerous models of notes, invitations, etc. The 
chapter on COURTSHIP AND MAKBIAOB is one of the best 
ever published. Without being silly it deals with this tender sub- 
jict in a way that will greatly assist the inexperienced. A gemot 
a book. Paper cover, illustrated m seven colors. 



" Many useful hints and special suggestions." — Popular Educa- 
tor^ Boston. 

"Filled with such information as young people mott need to 
possess.'"— Illinois School Journal. 



Price, Paper Cover, - - 25 Cents, 



r. S. DENISON, 163 Randolph St., CHICAGO. 



PRANKS AND PASTIMES. 

A New Book by MARY J. JACQUES, 

Author of '« Work and Play." 



Brimful of all sorts of good things. 



IF YOU WANT TO GET UP: 

A SCHOOL EXHIBITION, 

A lilTEKARY PROGRAM, 

A CHURCH SOCIABLE, 
AN BVENISrO'S PARLOR AMUSEMENT, 
TXZXS ZS 

THE VERY BOOK YOU WANT. 

IT C01TX.A.I1TS 

CHAKADES, PARLOR GAMES IN GREAT VARIETT, PAK- 
TOMIMES OF POPULAR POEMS, SHADOW SCENES IL- 
LUSTRATING POPULAB PASSAGES FROM THE POETS. 

RUZZL-ES. 

ENIGMAS, CONUNDRUMS, RIDDLES, 
ETC , ETC. 



Full directions for performance. Nothing expensive or difificult 
to get up. Miss Jacques is a lady of great ingenuity in devising 
pleasing performances for young and old. A capital book. Ail 
new and fresh, not a reprint. 

PRICE, MANTLA SIDES. CLOTH BACK, 162 PAGEa 
25 CENTS. 

Y. S. DENISON, 163 Randolph St., CHICAGO. 



The ENCflflNTED Wood. 

An Operetta. Libretto by Fannie E. Newberry. 
Music by T. M. Towne. 

Characters: Miss Muffit, Mistress Mary, Bopeep, Simple Simon, 
Boy Blue, Jack Horner, Fairy Queen (soprano), and maids of honor, 
school teacher (soprano). Mother Goose (contralto), police, and other 
fairies. Time of playing, from i hr. 30 min. to i hr. 45 min. Hand- 
some costumes, easily made at home. 

PLOT.— Six children start out from school on an expedition into 
the woods, but separate and wander singly into the borders of an 
enchanted wood. Here, by order of the Fairy Queen, they are lured 
further on till they sink down exhausted, and are thrown into a deep 
sleep by six fairies with poppy wands. 

Mother Goose requests the pleasure of transforming them into such 
characters of her own rhymes as they most resemble, ani they are 
roused to find themselves Jack Horner, Bopeep, etc. 

A Capital Taking Piece. Scenes Simple and easy. 
Price, 35 cents; Six Copies, $1.50. 

) K 

SociflL Card Games. 

By CHARLES TOWNSEND. 

A practical guide for playing all modern social games, with fuH 
instructions. Includes Whist, French Whist, Catch the Odd, Euchre 
(9 kinds), Ecarte, Cribbage, Scat, Bdzique, Sixty-six (3 kinds), Casino, 
Seven Up, (all kinds) Pitch, Auction Pitch, Pedro, Sancho-Pedro, 
etc , etc. By omitting long details on nice points, the author has 
given full and authoritative rules for playing all games ordinarily 
played, besides many totally new to most people. A necessity for 
handy reference. Also contains 

TRICKS fVND DIVERSIONS 

at cards. T' ise consists of many new and amusing tricks (illustrated) 

which may be readily learned, and will greatly amuse and puzzle your 

friends. 

128 PAGES PRINTED ON GOOD PAPER FROM CLEAR TYPE 

Price, clotli, 50 cents; paper 35 cents. 



PLAYS by T. S. DENISON. 

That the plays written by T. S. Denison are, all things con- 
sidered, the best for amateurs, is attested by their very large and 
increasing sale, over 455,000, to Oct. i, 1902. 

New plays in this type. 

COMEDIES. ACTS. TIME. M.F. 

Odds With the Enemy, 4, 2 hrs. 7—4 

Seth Greenback, 4, i h. 15 m. 7 — 3 

The School Ma'am, 4, i h. 45 m. 6 — 5 

Only Daughter, 3, i h. 15 m. 5—2 

Louva, the Pauper, 5, 2 hrs. g — 4 

Under the Laurels, 5, 2 hrs. 5 — 4 

Danger Signal, 2, i h. 45 m. 7 — 4 

Our Country, Historical Play, - • - 3, 1 h. 10 — 5 

The Sparkling Cup, 5, 2 hrs. 12 — 4 

Topp's Twins, 4, 2 hrs. 6 — 4 

It's all in Pay Streak, 3, i h. 40 m. 4 — 3 

Tlie New Woman, 3, ih. 3 — 6 

FARCES. ACTS. TIME. M.F. 

Initiating a Granger, 25 m. 8 — 

Wanted, a Correspondent, • - • - - 2, 45 in. 4 — 4 

A Family Strike, 20 m. 3 — 3 

Two Ghosts in White, ...... 20 m. —8 

The Assessor, ....... 10 m. 3 — 2 

Borrowing Trouble, - - - • - - • 20 m. 35 

Country Justice, ....... 20 m. 8 — 

The Pull Back, 20 m. —6 

Hans von Smash, 3, 30 m. 4—3 

Hard Cider, --...... 10 m. 4 — 2 

Irish Linen Peddler, ...... a, 40 m. 3 — 3 

Kansas Immigrants, -...-.. 20 111. 5 — i 

Too much of a Good Thing, .... 45 m. 3 — 6 

Is the Editor In? - 20m. 4-2 

Pets of Society, ....... 20 m. — 7 

Wide Enough for Two, ...... 45 m. 5^2 

Only Cold Tea, 20 m. 3—3 

Patsy O'Wang, ....... 35 m. 4—3 

Rejected, 40 m. 5 — 3 

A Flrst-Class Hotel, 20 m. 4— 

Mad, Princeton's Temple of Beauty, • - 20 m. — 6 

Dude in a Cyclone , 20 m. 5—3 

Tiie Cobbler, 10 m. i — 

M, head of column, means male: F, female : 25 m., etc., 25 minutes. 

4®" Topp's Twins and It's all In the Pay Streak, asc. each. 
All others 15c. each. Postpaid. 

Catalogue of ago plays and books free. 

T. 5. DENISON, Publisher, 
163 Randolph Street, - - CHICAGO. 



DEC c \%vx 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

IJtJiJJillllllliiliiiiillliilti 

016 112 400 A 



